Thozama Sikiti has learned to take whatever life throws at her. Even though it looked impossible in the beginning, the 37-year-old kept on rising, showing up, delivering, and staying focused on her farming journey.
Sikiti was a contract worker in different companies for 10 years, until she decided to go into farming three years ago. She wanted to change lives in her community through employment and provide access to food for the community of Khayelitsha B section in Cape Town where she resides.
What motivated her for going the farming route was to have something that she can own and leave a legacy for her children and community at large, she says.
“In 2019 I decided to quit my last job where I was tutoring young children from grade R to grade 7. I wanted something challenging and opted for agriculture even though I knew nothing about it.
“I went to Abalimi Bazekhaya for short courses on soil preparation, agri-processing, and agri-business. After completion I saw that I can kick-start [my farming career by] working in my backyard and doing organic farming,” she says.
Pushing through the bad times
In 2020 she received a land in E section where she could farm. Sikiti explains that she worked with young children in the area, including her own children, where she taught them about soil preparation, harvesting and selling the produce to the community.
“While Covid-19 was still high, there were positives and negatives. I received one hectare of land, and parents of the kids I was working with decided to stop their kids from working with me. So, I hired older people – two guys and one lady – where we started fixing the land for our farming activities.
“My challenge was that in my community I was the only young women who was doing farming, the rest were older people who discouraged me that farming was not ideal in the area.”
“I kept pushing because I saw that agriculture in my area was scarce and a successful farming project could help people to buy food locally. We were also doing door to door selling to our clients in the community,” she adds.
Despite the bad attitudes she received, she says her mentors at Abalimi Bazekhaya motivated her to go an extra mile as they believed that the project was going to yield positivity.
“The breakthrough came when the department of agriculture came through for me and purchased compost, seedlings and equipment.” Sikita farms with spinach and other vegetables.
She said an organisation called uthandaso donated seedlings, organic fertiliser and compost to her farming initiative Thunariso organic garden.
Making time to teach
As she is passionate about teaching and transferring her skills, Sekiti has devoted her time in developing and grooming young people to get into farming, but to know the basics first.
Sikiti says despite having a tight schedule of selling her produce to the community of Khayelitsha, she also trains community members on how to farm and she has also received interns from Abathula Collective.
“What keeps me going is the bond with nature and soil. From the humble beginnings to where I am today in a very short space of time, is because of the dedication that kept me going and seeing others flourishing – especially my three employees who started with me from scratch.”
Sekiti believes the time of waiting for handouts is over and she encourages everyone to start small in their backyard. To plant something and take it from there as times are tough.
“In 2021 I partnered with You Cook SA and Peddy, so every week the truck will come load some vegetables. For me that is an awesome achievement and a milestone that keeps me going whenever I think of giving up.
“My advice will be that those who are small-scale farmers should start using social media to access the markets because it is through social media that one can get recognition and potential buyers.”
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